San Vito is the capital of the Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica about 271 kilometers (168 miles) southeast of San Jose. It is characterized by a rugged terrain of high plateaus 996 meters above sea level in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountain range. This small agricultural community of approximately 15,000 offers an authentic Costa Rican experience away from the crowds of the typical tourist towns in Costa Rica.

The area was mostly inhabited by indigenous people until the 1950’s, when the Costa Rican government sponsored a European immigration plan to bring foreigners into agricultural settlements to cultivate farm land. The contract was with an Italian company, hence the large Italian influence in the area. By the 1960’s the coffee plantations had started to be successful and other crops such as sugarcane, corn beans and plantains became, and still are the main source of economic activity for the area. Many locals of the Ngabe (Guyami) live in a nearby indigenous reserve (Reserva Indigena Guayami de Coto Brus). Some women still dress in the traditional way with brightly colored long nagua dresses and their influence in food, language and culture are important to the daily life of the area.

Nearby Attractions:

Centro Cultural Dante Alighieri is a great resource for information on the Italian immigration and cultural influence on the area.

Jardin Botanico Wilson y Estacion Biologica Las Cruces is located six kilometers south of San Vito, and protects 300 hectares of wet forest to provide a home to 2,000 species of plants, 400 species of birds, and 113 species of mammals. Rare exotic plant species of Latin American are on display here from the anoid, bromeliad, and maranta families. Visitors can hike trails that overlook the stunning scenery of La Amistad National Park. The gardens are an educational resource with clearly marked divided by themes and with detailed descriptions of the plant life. All these aromatic flowers attract birds and their enthusiasts to this paradise.

Parque Internacional La Amistad is sixty kilometers north of San Vito and is a joint effort between Costa Rica and Panama and spans 401, 000 hectares of rainforest making it the largest reserve in Central America. Its rugged terrain makes it largely unexplored and it is only in the last six years that three groups: The Natural History Museum of London, INBio and the University of Panama led groups that ventured into the deepest regions of the park to discover previously unknown species.

La Amistad is still home to small groups of indigenous peoples, the Naso, BriBri and Ngöbe-Buglé retain their traditional way of life. In total, an estimated two thirds of all wildlife in Costa Rica inhabits the park including wild cats such as pumas, ocelots, jaguars, jagurundi and tropical birds, such as quetzals, yellow-green finches and the bare-necked umbrella birds. One thousand species of fern, five hundred types of trees and one hundred and thirty different orchids can be found within the park. Guided tours through the rugged natural beauty are recommended.

From San Jose: A 4x4 is strongly recommended, due to sometimes poor road conditions and unpaved access roads. The 276 kilometer drive will take between 5-6 hours on the Pan-American Highway, and then Route 237, or via the coastal road, Route 34.

From Liberia: The 433 kilometer drive will take 7-8 hours using the Pan-American Highway to Curre, and then Route 237, or via the coastal road, Route 34.